2005 potato conference kicks off next week

Guest speakers and new, remodeled locations top 'biggest, best' spud show

MOSES LAKE — Every year, the Washington State Potato Conference tries to do something new.

So says Karen Bonaudi, secretary-treasurer of the conference board.

There's a lot that will be different with this year's conference

"We're very excited about the prospects of being in the new (Advanced Technologies Education Center, or) ATEC Center out at (Big Bend) Community College," said Dale Lathim, chairman of the 2005 conference and executive director of Potato Growers of Washington. "The facility itself is nothing short of phenomenal."

Other items on Lathim's list include keynote speaker Patrick Moore and other speakers in the production that have come all the way from Israel.

"For the trade show, we're very excited about the fact that there's now restrooms in the Kenny Ardell Pavilion," he added. "We're just looking forward to the biggest and best conference we've ever had."

Bonaudi said that the conference really wants to encourage people to turn out to hear Moore, speaking Wednesday at 11 a.m. in the ATEC Conference Center.

"Patrick Moore has been described as a real dynamo, and an hour listening to him is like 10 minutes," she said. "He's that interesting. He's an environmentalist in the truest sense, in that he believes in science and cooperation."

Bonaudi added that there will be onstage entertainment at this year's trade show, and local band Hiawatha will perform at the trade show reception Tuesday night.

The Women's Program is a two-day affair with a tour around Moses Lake and luncheon at the Moses Lake Convention Center, and not the Lake Inn, as has incorrectly been advertised, she said, adding that the program has garnered a lot of support from local merchants.

The conference is also the first since the announcement was made that the conference will remain in Moses Lake through 2008.

"We're very happy to have that behind us," Lathim said. "It wasn't that we ever went out and asked to move. By the time we were done evaluating things, it was just obvious Moses Lake was the place (the conference) should be, always should be and will be for the near future."

Traditionally, Lathim said, the potato conference draws in an attendance of 1,700 to 2,000 people. Bonaudi added that last year was the first time an actual count took place, with more than 1,700 people.

Karen Wagner, manager of the Moses Lake Chamber of Commerce, said that the three-day conference provides a $3,160,255 impact to Grant County and Moses Lake.

"It's very good for the Moses Lake economy, (and) something we're very proud to work with the city and county on developing into the future," Lathim said.